A Baby For Christmas. Linda Ford

recalled hearing the words in a soft, gentle voice. Not Aunt Bea. They seldom talked about such things. It was Mrs. Porter who had said them. And Louise did her best to believe them. But there were days she wanted things to be easier. Then it would be easy to trust.

      They swayed hard to the right and she could do little but think about keeping from crying out against the pain in her ribs.

      “That young man is keeping a close eye on you,” the lady across from her said. “Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Miss Rowena Rolfe.”

      Louise and Missy introduced themselves.

      The three women looked toward the men awaiting their introductions.

      The cowboy said, “Sam.”

      The other man grinned, revealing stubs of yellowed teeth. “Sparky George.”

      No one asked if George was his first or last name, and after a minute he settled back.

      Miss Rolfe continued, “I’m journeying to Fort Macleod to join my brother.” She leaned closer and whispered, “He tells me there are ten men to every marriageable woman.” She blushed and lowered her gaze.

      The two men to her left slanted looks in her direction. The cowboy turned away quickly, but Sparky George studied Miss Rolfe several seconds.

      Miss Rolfe looked out the window at Nate. “If that is a sample of what’s available, I believe my decision to go to Fort Macleod will be a wise one.”

      Missy chuckled. “He’s married to her.” She jerked her thumb toward Louise, then pointedly nodded her head toward the men beside Miss Rolfe as if to suggest they might be available.

      Miss Rolfe shrank into her corner, clearly not liking the possibilities one man in particular on this ride offered.

      Missy grinned widely.

      “How far are you going?” Miss Rolfe asked.

      Seemed she had a need to pass the time with conversation, while all Louise wanted to do was close her eyes and pray for the day to end. Yes, she’d pray. Things couldn’t get much more difficult or hard to understand, so it seemed like a perfect time to start trusting God. I know I’ve not been faithful. I lied before the preacher and before You. I hope You can forgive me for that. But please, if You care about me at all, help me make it to Eden Valley Ranch. After a silent groan, she added, Help the baby to stay where he is until we get there.

      She closed her eyes and rested her head on the back of her bench as Miss Rolfe and Missy continued to talk. All she had to do was survive another mile and after that another mile, another hour, and another stop to change horses until they stopped for the night. Then repeat it all the next day and the next until they reached their destination.

      A day might as well have been a lifetime the way she felt at the moment.

      At the next stop, Nate came toward her as she walked about trying to get the cramps out of her legs and back. Not wanting to talk to him, she turned and retraced her steps.

      He followed. “Did you get water?”

      She shook her head. Sparky stood by the pump and she wanted fresh air more than she needed water.

      Nate trotted over, filled a dipper and brought it back to her.

      She grabbed the handle and drank sparingly. There would be no stops along the way for a pregnant lady needing to empty her bladder.

      “We’ll soon be at Fort Benton,” Nate said. “We’ll stop there for the night.”

      “Good.”

      “You’ll be okay?”

      “I’m fine.” As fine as could be expected, but she’d spare him the details. Her discomfort was temporary. Getting to safety at the ranch was all that mattered.

      She returned to her seat to endure the rest of the journey. She half dozed, lulled by the sway of the coach and the murmur of conversation around her.

      “Louise.” Missy’s frantic whisper brought her fully alert. “Look.”

      She followed the direction Missy pointed. From the trees rode two men with bandannas pulled up over their faces. She grabbed Missy’s hand. “Vic?” Not waiting for an answer, she jerked down the leather curtain. Missy did the same on her side.

      Sparky leaned forward, saw the men and jerked the curtain down on his side. “Ma’am, pull down the curtain,” he ordered Miss Rolfe. She peeked out the window, let out a squeak and jerked the leather covering down.

      Louise lifted a corner on her window to look for Nate. She couldn’t see him. Where had he gone? He was about to be tested on his promise to get her to safety.

      One of the men rode to the side of the driver and leveled his gun on the man. “This is a holdup.”

      Louise almost laughed. Did the robber think the driver might mistake him for someone wanting to get passage on the stage?

      “Whoa. Whoa.” The stage jerked to a halt.

      “Throw down the strongbox.”

      There was a strongbox? Was there one on every stage? Louise had never had any need to know.

      A metal box hit the ground beside her, the thud racing along her nerves.

      “You passengers get out.”

      Louise looked at Missy. If one of the men was Vic, could they expect to hide inside? Again she looked for Nate. Had the robbers found and shot him? Tears welled up behind her eyes but before she could explain them to herself the door yanked open and one of the robbers aimed his gun toward Miss Rolfe. “Out.”

      She scrambled past him.

      Sam was ordered out next. He took his time about climbing out until the robber hit him on the side of the head, then he hurried up.

      “Old man, yer next.”

      Sparky muttered under his breath and earned himself a smack on the side of the head, as well.

      Louise gasped as blood oozed from the wound. Finally she could see that this man wasn’t Vic, but he was every bit as evil. She measured the distance from her foot to the hand that held the gun. But before she could put her thought into action and kick the gun away, the robber turned to Missy.